LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas’ current flu season has been among its worst in the last three decades, with 54 deaths and nearly 1,400 people requiring hospital stays.

The state Department of Health said Friday that, except for 2009, Arkansas has to go back to 1981 to see a higher death toll. The four deaths among children this year is the highest since pediatric deaths were first monitored in 1980.

“Influenza is a major cause of morbidity,” state epidemiologist Dirk Haselow said in a statement. “It infects, sickens and kills more people in the U.S. than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined.”

Overall, doctors reported 21,495 positive tests for various types of influenza since Oct. 1. Most cases appeared treatable with flu medications.

The Health Department said there were likely additional cases of flu in the state, but that some cases are unreported and others aren’t bad enough for someone to seek medical care.

This year’s flu season peaked in December and January, earlier than in a typical year. The peak in 2011-12 occurred in January and February.